2-gang single receptacle plates/configuration

[Kevin W Holland]

2-gang single receptacle plates are only available at certain electrical supply houses. A colleague of mine said he has purchased them in stainless steel at Lowes. When I inquired about them (as I could not find them where my colleague said they were at) the electrical department employee insisted that they are not allowed per NEC anymore. I find that hard to believe. The most common configuration I have been utilizing the past several years is a 2-gang box, either plastic or metal w/2G ring -preferably deep(er) ring with (2) separate #12-2 NM cable branch circuits ran back to loadcenter utilizing dual function AFCI/GFCI circuit breakers. And if no 'air switch' is used the a #12-2 NM switch loop up to a 20A switch on wall next to sink. My question is: Why is this Lowes electrical department associate insisting that they do not carry "2-gang single receptacle plates" anymore because they are "not code compliant"?

 

[ActionDave]

I've seen dual simplex raised steel, a.k.a indy covers once in my life. I think the reason they are so rare is there is no need for them when all you need to do is break the tabs on a duplex receptacle if you want two circuits.

 

[retirede]

Rule #1 - ignore code advice from Lowe’s employees.

 

[rc/retired]

My question is: Why is this Lowes electrical department associate insisting that they do not carry "2-gang single receptacle plates" anymore because they are "not code compliant"?

I don't think anyone can answer that. However, (there's always a however in life), if you are an electrician, take your code book and have the associate show you.
I personally have never seen a 2 gang single outlet plate.

Ron

 

[hillbilly1]

They don’t have them in stainless, but the big box stores have them snap together plates that a two gang double single can be made

 

[roger]

Need to go to real supply houses.

Here is a P&S (legrand)

 

[Kevin W Holland]

I've seen dual simplex raised steel, a.k.a indy covers once in my life. I think the reason they are so rare is there is no need for them when all you need to do is break the tabs on a duplex receptacle if you want two circuits.

You can only use a duplex with broken tab if you utilize only (1) 20A, 120V cct. If you are running a 12-3 NM cable and using each phase wire on each of two receptacles that is not code. The device is only rated for 125V, not 250 (240) volts. You may be able to run (2) 12-2 NM cables and utilize a duplex receptacle but why? all that wire on one device? Seems like a lot more work and headache than just two singles.

 

[Kevin W Holland]

I don't think anyone can answer that. However, (there's always a however in life), if you are an electrician, take your code book and have the associate show you.
I personally have never seen a 2 gang single outlet plate.

Ron

See Rogers post. We've been using one, in white plastic, on every single SFR and condo for the past decade.

 

[rc/retired]

See Rogers post. We've been using one, in white plastic, on every single SFR and condo for the past decade.

I see that now. I would like to have the Lowe's associate show you where it's not code compliant.

Ron

 

[Little Bill]

You can only use a duplex with broken tab if you utilize only (1) 20A, 120V cct. If you are running a 12-3 NM cable and using each phase wire on each of two receptacles that is not code. The device is only rated for 125V, not 250 (240) volts. You may be able to run (2) 12-2 NM cables and utilize a duplex receptacle but why? all that wire on one device? Seems like a lot more work and headache than just two singles.

With the tabs broken, you won't have 240V on each receptacle, you will only have 120v on each. This is done everyday.

 

[LarryFine]

https://mulberrymetal.com/?s=2-gang+single+receptacles&post_type=product

 

[infinity]

With the tabs broken, you won't have 240V on each receptacle, you will only have 120v on each. This is done everyday.

I agree very common installation and not violation. Poor design maybe but permitted.

 

[LarryFine]

When I do that, I always pry the broken metal bits farther apart.

 

[electrofelon]

The electrical department employee insisted that they are not allowed per NEC anymore"?

It's something like that I can tell immediately is just pure hogwash. I mean I complain about the NEC a lot and call the cmps clueless and incompetent, but why on Earth would such a silly trivial thing like a plate configuration be prohibited?

 

[Kevin W Holland]

When I do that, I always pry the broken metal bits farther apart.

haha good one

 

[Kevin W Holland]

I agree very common installation and not violation. Poor design maybe but permitted.

I dont tink yer curreckt der wade

 

[Kevin W Holland]

I dont tink yer curreckt der wade

That has not been allowed for several years now.

 

[electrofelon]

I was recently looking for a 2 gang plate but with a single single receptacle hole. Actually I think I found it with a 1.41" hole but not the larger 1.625 that I needed. I guess I'll have to punch and drill a blank out or use a raco 187 with a single raised cover

 

[LarryFine]

haha good one

I didn't mean it to be funny. To me, this is kind of close for 240v:

 

[electrofelon]

That has not been allowed for several years now.

What exactly? Breaking the tabs on a duplex receptacle?